CHRIS CHAPMAN A LEGACY OF LEARNING

In the field of education, there are exceptional teachers whose passion and unique teaching style leave a lasting impression on their students. Chris Chapman is one such remarkable educator.

Before commencing long-service leave last year, Chris spent an incredible 40 years teaching at St Peters Lutheran College. In a recent interview, he shared his reflections on his teaching journey, the changing landscape of education and the memorable moments in his classroom.

Chris was inspired to pursue a career in teaching because of his love of history, geography, storytelling and acting. While he originally wanted to become a park ranger, a detour led him to teaching where he realised that he enjoyed helping young people learn about the things he found interesting. Before joining St Peters Lutheran College, he worked as a postman, cleared bushland and taught at Baralaba in central Queensland and Ipswich Girls Grammar.

During his career, Chris taught various subjects including English, History, Geography, Political Studies, Christian Studies and Year 8 Art (although he described the latter as ‘a disaster’). However, his passion for history, particularly Medieval Europe, the Industrial Revolution and Australia in World War One and Two, stood out.

Chris believes studying history is crucial because it gives us insights into human behaviour, enabling us to understand the complex world and shape the future.

"In many ways, people and institutions don't change,” Chris said. “So [by studying history] students can better understand the world as it is operating now and have a guess at what may happen in the future, thus avoiding mistakes made in the past."

Chris was renowned for his ability to bring humour into the classroom and his interactive teaching approach that revolves around storytelling and engaging activities. By dramatising historical characters and events, Chris brought history to life for his students.

Many Year 10 History students will vividly remember his Kokoda Campaign jungle warfare simulation conducted in the St Peters rainforest. During the activity, students engaged in various training exercises that involved advancing silently using hand signals, withdrawing in sections and neutralising a concealed sniper – a guest participant dressed in Japanese military uniform and camouflage. Additionally, they had the opportunity to sample bully beef and biscuit rations and experienced the challenge of sitting silently in position during a simulated jungle deluge, created using a nearby hose.

As education has evolved over the decades, Chris has seen significant changes, particularly in the use of computers and digital technology. While recognising their benefits, he emphasised the need for a balanced approach to ensure students do not become too reliant on them.

Chris also observed that the manner in which teachers are required to assess students' work has undergone changes over time, and not necessarily for the better.

"It has become more complicated, especially in marking and assessment. There is a lot more administration and record-keeping involved, much of which is not terribly useful,” he said.

On thinking back to the most memorable moments of his career, Chris recalled when his class was truly engaged and eager to learn.

"Seeing students laugh and enjoy learning in my classes and watching as they pick up the storyline of history and want to know what happened next and why.”

As Chris moves on from teaching, he hopes his students will remember their time in his class as a starting point for a lifelong pursuit of learning and understanding.

"[I hope] that they found the subjects unexpectedly interesting and discovered that they wanted to learn more about them and about life in general,” he said.

Chris has been dedicated to St Peters Lutheran College throughout his entire career. When asked if he ever considered working at another school, he responded, "No, I was very happy at St Peters and knew I was onto a good thing compared to many other schools."

He credits the supportive staff, the students and parents for creating an enjoyable teaching environment. “I never lost sight of how lucky I was to be at a school like St Peters and frequently said thank you prayers for it,” he continued.

Last year, Chris embarked on well deserved long-service leave and has focused on getting fit, tending to his organic fruit and vegetable garden and “being a trampoline for five little grandsons”.

When asked about the most important qualities of a successful educator, Chris' response was simple: "A desire to awaken keen interest in students." This guiding principle has shaped his teaching approach over the years, allowing him to breathe life into history and make learning fun.

As we bid farewell to Chris Chapman, we acknowledge his extraordinary contributions to St Peters Lutheran College and the lifelong love of learning he has instilled in all those who have had the privilege of being his students.